The Canadian Press and numerous other media outlets have reported that Montreal-based Supremex Incorporated is cutting 41 employees at its Canadian envelope manufacturing operations in a cost-saving measure as it diversifies its business to include more packaging products. The company, headquartered in LaSalle, Quebec, said the cuts affect 8% of its Canadian envelope workforce. It currently operates 12 facilities across seven provinces as well as three facilities in the United States, employing approximately 830 people. According to its third-quarter financial report, the company’s revenue from its envelope businesses has declined over the first 9 months of 2018 compared with last year – while its packaging division has seen an increase. Supremex added that its workforce reduction will lower annual costs by about $2.7 million before taxes starting in the current quarter and throughout 2019. President and CEO Stewart Emerson said the company has moved employees to its packaging business where possible and worked with others on early retirement options. “These cost-cutting measures were necessary to improve operational efficiency and improve both competitiveness and profitability in our envelope business, as we continue to prudently deploy resources into our packaging activities,” Emerson added.